The pain could be either heart or GI related. It could also be something entirely different. However, it would be wise to have heart disease (most likely structural because of his height and weight -- certain structural diseases of the heart are more common in athletes and very large people). Sometimes eating can provide enough additional stress on a heart that has a sturctural defect, to cause some mild symptoms. An echocardiogram and resting EKG, at a minimum, would be necessary to rule out this sort of problem and would also probably expose any suggestions of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well.

If both structural defects and CAD are ruled out, then it would be wise to move on to try and determine if there is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or esophogeal spasm causing the pain. If so, there are many medications which could help resolve this problem.

Obviously the most important thing would be to rule out any sort of heart-related problem. While you haven't mentioned his age, just based on his height and weight he is statistically more inclined toward certain types of heart problems, and with the location and nature of the pain, it should be explored.

I hope this is helpful. Best of luck to you both. Please follow up with us here as needed.

Thank you so much! He is 37, will be 38 in February. He has never really had any previous health issues. He has not always been close to 300 lbs. He was average for his height. He changed careers which led to a more sedimentary lifestyle and gained 75 lbs over the course of a year and a half.

I shared your response with him and he was most grateful. I will get him an appt with a doctor first thing.

That's a pretty large gain to pick up in one year, so it may just be the body is reacting to the load (and its placement) with some pain where things are being stretched a little. Best to know for certain, however.

You're very welcome and I'm glad your boyfriend will be getting checked soon. Best of luck to you both.

Hi, I've been having the same problems. After I eat an unhealthy meal (typically fast food) I have been experiencing a dull chest pain on the left side of my chest between the left nipple and sternum. I am only 18 years old and am 5' 11" and about 140 lbs.